Friends of the Wisdom Hospice charity shop in Sittingbourne High Street broken into

A Sittingbourne charity shop is appealing for donations after it was broken into.

Friends of The Wisdom Hospice in the High Street was targeted by thieves who prised open a window on Friday night.

Claire Miller, store manager, said: “It’s horrible – they got in through the kitchen window on the flat roof extension and took the safe, its contents, and some jewellery.

John Hale and Clare Miller at the shop with the broken charity tin.

“Including having the locks changed, this is going to cost about £1,000, which is quite a big dent for us and at the end of the day, it’s the hospice which suffers.

“It’s the general consensus that it’s the lowest of the low to attack a charity shop.”

The criminals also took money from a charity tin under the till, leaving it bashed.

Some of the damage caused.

The Rochester-based charity supports the hospice which helps people with life-limiting illnesses across Medway and Swale.

It broke the news on Facebook at the weekend saying: “It is with great sadness to let our supporters know that last night our Sittingbourne shop was sadly broken into.

“Some cash was taken as well as valuable donations of stock that our donors very kindly gave to us. It’s sad that someone would target any charity but in particular a charity that highly likely serves their community.

The charity shop. Picture: Google.

“It is also sad for our volunteers and shop manager who work so hard to raise those funds. As we are keen to make up the difference that has been lost we are appealing for donations of stock to the shop directly.”

The shop now hopes to make up what was lost through donations from the public.

Martyn Reeves, chief executive of the Friends of The Wisdom Hospice, said the amount taken was enough to pay for two nurses salaries for the day.

He said: “We’re tightening our security and getting a better safe.

"The team work very very hard so were very demoralised on Saturday morning"

“But the reaction to our Facebook post so far has been heartening, so many people have been calling with support and donations.”